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Big success for Wee Sleep Out

Thousands of young people give up their beds for the night to support Social Bite’s mission to end homelessness.

Around 5,000 young people across Scotland slept out on Friday 9 November in support of homeless charity Social Bite. The Wee Sleep Out, a national awareness-raising fundraising campaign, has been backed by children aged 8 to 16 who are passionate about ending homelessness in Scotland.

From Stornoway to the Scottish Borders, Wee Sleep Outs took place up and down the country, with schools, clubs and youth groups all backing the campaign.

In partnership with Scotland’s Year of Young People 2018, the event has had huge support, with Deputy First Minister John Swinney and Great British Bake Off judge Prue Leith both publically backing the campaign.

Among those taking part were the ‘Burnbrae Boys’; a group of five school friends from Bonnyrigg. The P5 pupils Cosmo MacDougall, Cole Hood, Lachlan Johnson and Ollie Willis (all aged 9) and Robert Hodge (aged 8) spent the night together in Robert’s back garden, raising £3,800 so far for the cause.

Alice Thompson, co-founder of Social Bite, said: “For so many young people to give up their warm beds for the night is incredible, and I’m overwhelmed by how many children have backed our movement to end homelessness in Scotland.

“I’d like to extend a thank you to every single person who took part and organised their own Wee Sleep Out this weekend. The money raised will make a huge difference to those who need it most.”

Earlier in the year, Social Bite partnered with Sumdog on a nationwide maths competition in a bid to encourage school children to get involved in the Wee Sleep Out. Social Bite co-founders Josh Littlejohn MBE and Alice Thompson will be presenting the prizes to the winners later in the year.

The money raised from the Wee Sleep Out will contribute to Social Bite’s Sleep in the Park total. Taking place on Saturday 8 December, the multi-city sleep out will take place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen, with around 12,000 expected to take part.